Six buildings pick up RIBA awards

SIX regional buildings won at RIBA North West’s regional awards last week.

The architects involved are: BDP, Haworth Tompkins, Austin-Smith: Lord, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, FaulknerBrowns Architects, and 5plus Architects.

BDP was named the North West Architect of the Year while 5plus was named the Emerging Architect of the Year. Both are based in Manchester.

BDP Manchester chairman Gavin Elliott said: “The high standards applied by RIBA judges in selecting award winners mean that the BDP Manchester team can be very proud of this achievement.”

Andrew Ruffler, RIBA North West regional director said: “Once again the North West has produced another crop of outstanding buildings, all of which demonstrate the value of a strong architect-client relationship.

“The jury had a tough job in choosing the RIBA NW Regional Award winners from a shortlist of very impressive buildings from across the region, but were in agreement that the six winners exhibited particular qualities that set them apart from the others.”   

RIBA North West Regional Award winners will be considered for a RIBA National Award which will be announced in June. The shortlist for the RIBA Stirling Prize for the best building of the year will be drawn from the RIBA National Award-winning buildings.

The winning buildings are:

Enterprise South Liverpool Academy

Liverpool  

RIBA North West Regional Award
RIBA North West Architect of the Year Award
RIBA North West Client of the Year Award

Architect: BDP        
Client: Enterprise South Liverpool Academy            
Contractor: Lend Lease

ESLA has 1,100 pupils and RIBA said the building is already inspiring achievement in students with marked improvements in exam results and attendance.

Everyman Theatre
Liverpool

RIBA North West Regional Award
RIBA North West Building of the Year Award

Architect: Haworth Tompkins
Client: Liverpool and Merseyside Theatres Trust
Contractor: Gilbert-Ash

The original theatre was converted from a 19th Century chapel. The new building includes a technically advanced 400-seat theatre, smaller performance spaces, rehearsal room, public foyer, café and bar along with supporting office and ancillary spaces.

Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool

RIBA North West Regional Award
RIBA North West Conservation Award

Architect: Austin-Smith:Lord LLP
Client: Liverpool City Council
Contractor: Shepherd Construction Ltd

Austin-Smith: Lord has overseen the removal of a series of 1950s and ’70s buildings no longer fit for purpose, leading to the insertion, behind the listed façade, of a new library building. Enrolments at the library are up and it has become a visitor attraction in its own right.

RIBA said one of Austin-Smith: Lord’s greatest achievements was to make the Picton Reading Room, Hornby Room and Oak Room fully accessible to the public and linked back into the main central atrium space of the new library.

Manchester School of Art
Manchester

RIBA North West Regional Award

Architect: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Client: Manchester Metropolitan University
Contractor: Morgan Sindall

This major refurbishment and extension to the Manchester School of Art has been executed with “great skill” by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, according to RIBA. The building breaks down the traditional art and design units encouraging staff and students across disciplines to work together and explore the common ground.

Number One Riverside
Rochdale

RIBA North West Regional Award

Architect: FaulknerBrowns Architects
Client: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Contractor: Sir Robert McAlpine

To build a new council office in the middle of a recession was a very bold move by Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, which was no doubt questioned by some. However, the council recognised that with a new building bringing 1,700 employees from 33 different buildings together they could not only improve service delivery, but act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Rochdale town centre.

Trafford Town Hall
Trafford

RIBA North West Regional Award
RIBA North West Emerging Architect of the Year
RIBA North West Sustainability Award

Architect: 5plus Architects
Client: Trafford Borough Council
Contractor: Shepherd Construction Ltd

In 2009 the Grade II listed Trafford Town had a £3m backlog of repairs and an unsympathetic 1980s extension that provided very poor office space for its staff. 5 Plus’ approach to the project was to restore the Town Hall, remove the extension and create a new building.

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